Faust

RACE

Human

GENDER

Female

LIFE STAGE

Youth

BODY SIZE

Medium

BUILD

Average

Has a counsel of infinite alternate version of herself known as the Geselsshaft

GOAL & MOTIVE

To answer every question The Faust Civil War: The Schism of the Thousand Answers (Grant note: this would be used for a ‘Faust Arc’ similarly to how we are going through a Smee arc right now) At first, the Gesellschaft does not break loudly. It drifts. Across the network, Fausts begin to disagree on facts that should be shared: the name of a street they all once walked, the face of a dead ally, the order of events in a battle. No one can prove another wrong, because each version remember something slightly different. The conflict begins as an argument over truth, then becomes a war over which truths deserve to survive. Some Fausts believe the society must preserve all knowledge, even contradictory knowledge. Others believe only one coherent reality can remain. A third faction decides that if reality is changing, then the Gesellschaft should control the change instead of resisting it. For a while, this war happens in the sidelines. Not in open battle, but in missing memories, corrupted predictions, and subtle sabotage between alternate selves. Phase I: The Hidden Split This phase is not physical. The DM can use it to warn the party only through strange behavior, not body horror. Mental symptoms Fausts begin to experience: thoughts that feel “pre-corrected,” as if another self has already solved them, half-finished memories that end in static, brief certainty that a companion has said something they never said, overlapping inner voices arguing in different tones, difficulty telling whether an idea is theirs or borrowed. What it feels like To Faust, it is not pain at first. It is disobedience in the mind. A thought forms, and another Faust interrupts it. A memory appears, and two others dispute it. The Gesellschaft becomes less like a choir and more like a room full of scholars whispering over one another, all insisting they are right. What happens in the world The war stays quiet. On the surface, the party sees only: missed predictions, sudden pauses in Faust’s certainty, strange delays in her answers, rare moments where she seems to listen to something no one else can hear. This is the perfect time for the DM to let the conflict build without revealing the true scale. Phase II: The First Physical Sign This is when the party can be alerted. The first physical symptom should be subtle, but unmistakable enough to show the war has crossed into the body. A good trigger is: Faust’s shadow moves a fraction too late. After that, the signs begin: a brief nosebleed when multiple Fausts speak at once, cold fingertips that do not warm normally, one pupil briefly reflecting a different face, faint script or static crawling under the skin like a bruise made of symbols, a headache that feels less like pressure and more like being pulled in several directions. Why this matters The Gesellschaft is no longer just a mental network. The war is now trying to rewrite the self. The body starts to reflect the fracture because the mind can no longer contain it Phase III: Open Conflict in the Self Once the physical symptoms begin, the civil war becomes harder to hide. Different factions of Faust try to steer her actions: one urges caution and data collection, one demands immediate action against Vecna, one wants to cut off the Gesellschaft entirely, one believes the only way to win is to accept becoming less human. Physical effects: The body starts showing strain. involuntary pauses mid-sentence as another Faust tries to speak through her, twitching hands when two selves attempt different gestures, brief double-vision where an alternate version of the room overlays the real one, exhaustion after even small decisions, as though choosing costs more than it should. Mental effects The conflict becomes emotional as well as intellectual: Faust may feel grief for selves she never met, anger at versions that “betrayed” the collective, fear that she is not the original enough to deserve the name, a growing suspicion that one Faust inside the network is feeding Vecna. How the war affects the other Fausts Not all Fausts suffer the same way. The loyalists become sharper, colder, and more brittle. They still function well, but they are increasingly unable to tolerate contradiction. The separatists weaken mentally first. Their memories become clearer when isolated, but they lose the collective advantage of the Gesellschaft. The compromised Fausts begin to “echo.” Their words repeat later in other timelines, sometimes out of order, sometimes as warnings. The damaged are the first to suffer physical effects: bleeding from the nose or ears, shaking hands, glassy eyes, visible glitches in their reflection, moments where their bodies do not match their intentions. (Our Faust is not in one of these groups YET) What the party notices For a while, almost nothing. Then the party begins to catch: Faust staring into empty space too long, Faust answering a question with “that depends which of us you are speaking to,” a sudden change in her certainty, references to events the party does not remember happening, signs that she has been arguing with someone invisible. Only when the physical phase begins should the DM make it obvious that this is not a normal magical strain. It is a war of selves. A strong reveal line for the DM “At first you only noticed the silence between Faust’s answers. Now, when she turns her head, it is as though five different people are trying to decide which way to look.” Information Unknown to Our Faust: The First Observation Long before the Gesellschaft existed, there was only the Original Faust. At the dawn of recorded history, she pursued a single impossible question: “What is the source of miracles?" Her research eventually led her beyond the Material Plane, where she found not gods or demons, but four impossible souls. They were known only as The Maidens of Virtue. Each represented an ideal that reality itself tried to uphold. Justice Hope Prosperity Righteous Anger They were not yet the twisted Maidens forgotten by history. They were guardians whose existence stabilized the world's emotions. Wherever despair spread, they restored hope. Wherever greed flourished, they reminded mortals of generosity. The Original Faust traveled beside them for years. Not as their leader. Not as their equal. But as their chronicler. She recorded every battle, every victory, every smile. For the first time in her life... Faust had friends. Each Maiden embodied an emotion. Faust embodied something else. Understanding When Queen of Justice doubted herself, Faust reminded her why she fought. When Knight of Hope lost hope, Faust stayed beside her. When King of Prosperity’s desires grew endless, Faust restrained her. When Servant of Anger became consumed by vengeance, Faust convinced her to spare those who deserved mercy. For centuries, the five traveled together. Faust eventually noticed something terrifying. Every victory made the Maidens stronger... But every tragedy left a scar. Justice slowly became obsession. Hope became despair. Prosperity became greed. Righteous Anger became vengeance. The virtues themselves were unstable The Maidens were not becoming monsters because they failed. They became monsters because they succeeded for too long. The world demanded impossible perfection from them. Eventually... their ideals broke. Unable to stop their transformations, the Original Faust made one final promise. "If I cannot save you... then I shall ensure you are never forgotten." She sealed fragments of each Maiden's soul inside four relics. The first E.G.O. Not weapons. Memories. Each contained the will of its owner. She scattered them across reality before the Maidens disappeared. No one knows where they went. The grief of losing her companions became the reason the Original Faust founded the Gesellschaft. The Distortion Phenomena What Are Distortions? A Distortion is the physical and psychological manifestation of a person's overwhelming emotions, obsessions, regrets, or despair. Rather than simply losing their mind, a person undergoing Distortion has their inner truth forced into reality. Their body, abilities, and even the surrounding environment become symbolic of the beliefs that consumed them. Every Distortion is unique. One person may become a monstrous beast, another a beautiful angelic figure, another a walking city of machinery. The appearance always reflects the person's psyche rather than following any biological rules. Distortions are not inherently evil. They simply represent someone who has surrendered to the answer their heart wished to hear. Opposing a Distortion is the awakening of E.G.O. (Extermination of Geometrical Organ)—a person's ability to acknowledge their suffering while refusing to be ruled by it. Both phenomena originate from the same emotional crossroads. A Brief History Years ago, an event known as the **White Nights and Dark Days** spread the Light throughout humanity. The Light was intended to allow people to confront themselves and become better versions of who they were. However, humanity proved more complicated than expected. Many individuals rejected reality instead of accepting it. Their unresolved emotions resonated with the Light, giving birth to the first Distortions. Since then, Distortions have appeared unpredictably throughout the City. Some become harmless recluses. Some become disasters capable of leveling districts. Others retain nearly all of their intelligence while pursuing impossible ideals. No organization has discovered a reliable way to prevent Distortion entirely. The Distortion Process Distortion rarely happens instantly. Instead, it progresses through several recognizable stages. Stage One – Fracture An individual's worldview begins collapsing. Stress, grief, guilt, hopelessness, betrayal, or obsession push them toward an emotional breaking point. Reality no longer aligns with what they desperately wish to believe. Stage Two – The Voice As their mind fractures, they begin hearing an unseen presence. The voice does not command. Instead, it understands. It speaks the thoughts they secretly wanted someone else to say. It validates every fear. Every regret. Every desire. It offers an easier answer. Examples include: “You have sacrificed enough." “Nobody ever understood you." “You deserve to become something greater." Stage Three – The Choice Eventually the person must make a decision. Reject the voice... ...or accept it. If they reject it, they may awaken E.G.O. If they embrace it completely, Distortion begins. Stage Four – Manifestation The body transforms into symbolic form. Weapons, environments, abilities, clothing, and even gravity around them may change. Their powers become direct extensions of their beliefs. Unlike ordinary monsters, defeating a Distortion often requires confronting the emotional truth that created it. Distortions and the Gesellschaft Long before the campaign began, the Gesellschaft recognized Distortions as one of the greatest unresolved mysteries. While countless Fausts across realities had documented Distortions, none discovered a universal explanation. Some believed Distortions were flaws in humanity. Others believed they represented humanity's purest expression. Others argued Distortions and E.G.O. were identical phenomena separated only by a final decision. Because every universe produced different Distortions under different circumstances, no consensus was ever reached. Entire branches of the Gesellschaft dedicated centuries of accumulated research toward predicting Distortion events. They failed. Even with knowledge gathered from innumerable realities, Distortions remained fundamentally unpredictable. This failure became one of the Gesellschaft's greatest frustrations. Faust's Relationship with Distortions Faust has spent years studying Distortions academically. She knows their recorded behaviors. Their classifications. Their symbolism. Methods used to suppress them. Methods rumored to reverse them. Yet despite possessing more theoretical knowledge than almost anyone alive, Faust has never truly understood them. Because Distortion is not solved through logic. It is solved through emotion. The Gesellschaft views every mystery as something waiting to be solved. Distortions reject that philosophy. No equation predicts grief. No calculation explains hope. No theorem can quantify identity. For perhaps the first time in her life, Faust faces a phenomenon that cannot be conquered simply by learning more. Why Faust Is Vulnerable Faust's greatest strength has always been certainty. Whenever confronted with the unknown, the Gesellschaft supplied another answer. Another perspective. Another solution. She was never truly alone. Now, that certainty is failing. As the campaign progresses, repeated failures, impossible choices, the burden of countless alternate selves, and the fear of becoming merely another interchangeable Faust slowly erode the foundation of her identity. If she reaches the point where she believes: “Faust no longer knows who Faust is." or “Perhaps the Gesellschaft should decide instead." then the Voice may finally answer. Whether Faust awakens her E.G.O. or succumbs to Distortion will depend not on knowledge... ...but on whether she chooses to define herself rather than allowing others—even countless versions of herself—to do it for her. This is why a Distortion is the perfect culmination of Faust's character arc. It challenges the one question that no amount of intellect can answer: "Who is Faust, when every other Faust falls silent?" E.G.O. If Distortion is the surrender to one's emotions, then E.G.O. (Extermination of Geometrical Organ) is the mastery of them. The two phenomena are born from the same emotional crossroads. Both require an individual to confront the deepest parts of themselves, often at the height of despair or overwhelming conflict. The difference lies not in the emotions they experience, but in the choice they make. A person who Distorts accepts the answer that promises escape, allowing their emotions to reshape reality around them. A person who awakens E.G.O. accepts those same emotions without allowing them to define or consume them. Rather than rejecting their pain or surrendering to it, they carry it forward as a source of strength. Like Distortions, no two E.G.O.s are exactly alike. Every manifestation reflects its wielder's identity, convictions, and personal history. Forms of E.G.O. Although all E.G.O. stems from the same underlying phenomenon, it appears in two primary forms. Lobotomy E.G.O. Before the spread of the Light, a Guild discovered that powerful entities called Abnormalities naturally produced equipment embodying fragments of their nature. These weapons, suits, and gifts became known as E.G.O. Equipment, or Lobotomy E.G.O. Unlike naturally awakened E.G.O., this equipment is not born from the user's own soul. Instead, it borrows the power of an Abnormality. Skilled users synchronize with that power, allowing them to wield extraordinary weapons and protective gear without undergoing a personal awakening. However, this synchronization is never perfect. Using equipment incompatible with the user's mind or temperament risks severe psychological damage, loss of control, or even death. The stronger the Abnormality, the greater the burden placed upon its wielder. Example – Mimicry One of the most infamous examples of Lobotomy E.G.O. is Mimicry, derived from the Abnormality Nothing There. Its weapon appears as a grotesque mass of living flesh that reshapes itself into a massive blade, while its armor resembles organic muscle wrapped around the wearer's body. Mimicry grants incredible regenerative abilities and overwhelming physical strength, but prolonged synchronization risks causing the user to think and behave more like the Abnormality from which it originated. Lobotomy E.G.O. is immensely powerful, but it is ultimately borrowed power. The weapon belongs to the Abnormality first, and the wielder second. Effloresced E.G.O. Following the spread of the Light, some individuals began manifesting E.G.O. directly from their own hearts. Known as Effloresced E.G.O., these manifestations are not borrowed from an external source. They are the physical expression of a person's identity after overcoming the emotional trial that could have led to Distortion. Effloresced E.G.O. can take many forms: weapons, armor, companions, environmental changes, or even entirely new bodies. Unlike Lobotomy E.G.O., their appearance is dictated entirely by symbolism rather than any existing Abnormality. Because they originate from the user themselves, Effloresced E.G.O. often evolves as its wielder grows. It reflects not only who they are, but who they choose to become. Example – Spicebush The Effloresced E.G.O. known as **Spicebush**, awakened by Dongbæk, manifests as a flowering tree whose blossoms drift endlessly through the air. Its appearance symbolizes both memory and acceptance. The falling petals evoke paths that could have been taken, while the rooted tree represents the decision to remain present rather than becoming trapped by regret or impossible ideals. Rather than overwhelming enemies through brute force, Spicebush twists space with blossoms and roots, reflecting Dongbæk’s acceptance that every possibility cannot be pursued. By embracing the single path before him instead of mourning countless unrealized futures, his E.G.O. transforms longing into resolve. Unlike borrowed equipment, Spicebush cannot simply be handed to another person. It exists only because Dongbæk reached the emotional understanding that gave it form. E.G.O. and the Gesellschaft The Gesellschaft has spent countless lifetimes studying E.G.O., yet its conclusions remain frustratingly incomplete. Alternative Fausts have documented hundreds of awakenings across countless worlds, cataloguing the symbols, abilities, and circumstances surrounding each manifestation. Patterns have emerged, but no universal formula exists. Some Fausts argue that E.G.O. is the ultimate expression of selfhood. Others believe it is merely another state of the Light, no more or less "correct" than Distortion. One unsettling theory suggests that every Distortion contains the potential for E.G.O., and every E.G.O. contains the potential to Distort again should its wielder abandon the convictions that birthed it. No version of Faust has proven or disproven this hypothesis. Faust's Understanding of E.G.O. Faust understands the mechanics of E.G.O. better than almost anyone alive. She can explain historical awakenings, identify symbolic motifs, and predict the emotional pressures that often precede an awakening. Through the Gesellschaft, she has examined records from innumerable realities where different Fausts, and countless others, attained E.G.O. Yet all of that knowledge remains secondhand. To Faust, E.G.O. has always been something to observe, categorize, and explain—not something to experience. Like Distortion, it cannot be reached through intellect alone. When confronted with her own defining moment, no amount of accumulated knowledge from alternate selves will be enough. The Gesellschaft cannot awaken E.G.O. for her. It cannot provide the correct answer, only countless possibilities. For the first time, Faust must arrive at a truth that belongs solely to her. Should she succeed, her E.G.O. will not represent the wisdom of the Gesellschaft, nor the experiences of infinite alternate Fausts. It will represent something far rarer: A future chosen by this Faust alone. Abnormalities What Are Abnormalities? Abnormalities are supernatural beings that exist outside the normal laws of nature. Each embodies a concept, fear, desire, fairy tale, urban legend, or fragment of the collective unconscious. While they possess physical forms, they are not truly biological creatures. They think, behave, and interact according to symbolic rules rather than natural instinct. Some resemble harmless animals. Others appear as angels, monsters, machines, creatures from a children’s story, or ordinary household objects. Many can communicate, while others act only through instinct or ritual. No two Abnormalities are truly identical, but multiple abnormalities can stem from the same source. Unlike Distortions, which are born from an individual, Abnormalities represent ideas shared across humanity itself. They existed independently of any single person and became known to the world through the research of the now fallen Wing of District L, Lobotomy Corporation. Every Abnormality possesses unique abilities and a set of behavioral "rules." Learning these rules is often the difference between successful containment and catastrophe. Risk Classifications Lobotomy Corporation organized Abnormalities according to the danger they posed to employees and containment facilities. ZAYIN ZAYIN Abnormalities are generally easy to manage and rarely become lethal unless deliberately mishandled. Many appear passive or even friendly, though they remain fundamentally unnatural. TETH TETH-class Abnormalities possess abilities capable of killing unprepared personnel. Their containment procedures require specialized training, though experienced agents routinely work with them. HE HE-class Abnormalities demand experienced employees and strict adherence to containment procedures. A single mistake can result in multiple casualties or facility-wide emergencies. WAW WAW Abnormalities possess overwhelming power capable of devastating entire departments if containment fails. Suppressing one often requires elite personnel equipped with powerful E.G.O. Only the most experienced agents are trusted to work with them. ALEPH ALEPH Abnormalities represent the pinnacle of danger. Their escapes have resulted in countless deaths and, in extreme cases, the collapse of entire facilities. Few individuals have survived direct encounters with ALEPH-class entities. Even fewer have emerged unchanged. Fortunately, ALEPH-class abnormalities are extraordinarily rare Faust's History with Abnormalities Before joining the adventuring party, Faust spent years studying Abnormalities through both scholarship and direct experience. During her time as a researcher, she analyzed surviving Lobotomy Corporation records alongside the observations of the Gesellschaft. Across countless realities, alternate Fausts had documented thousands of containment procedures, behavioral patterns, and E.G.O. manifestations. The resulting archive became one of the Gesellschaft's greatest collections of knowledge. Unlike Distortions, Abnormalities follow remarkably consistent rules. An Abnormality encountered in one world behaves almost identically in another, making them ideal subjects for comparative research. Theory alone, however, was never enough. While traveling with the Emberlight Office, Faust participated in several containment operations commissioned by organizations unable to handle escaped Abnormalities themselves. Though never employed by Lobotomy Corporation, she learned firsthand that every file, report, and observation only captured part of the truth. Abnormalities have an unsettling habit of punishing overconfidence. Faust does not view them as simple monsters. Some are unquestionably hostile. Others display loneliness, curiosity, grief, or even kindness. To Faust, every Abnormality is a mystery waiting to be understood rather than merely destroyed. Faust’s Prior Encounter I – Meat Lantern (TETH) One of Faust's earliest field assignments involved an escaped Meat Lantern, a carnivorous plant-like Abnormality that disguised itself beneath the earth. Rather than pursuing prey, Meat Lantern waited. Only a single bioluminescent flower remained visible above the surface, acting as irresistible bait. The moment an unsuspecting traveler approached, enormous jaws erupted from beneath the ground to swallow them whole. Several hunters had vanished before Emberlight accepted the request. While others searched for tracks, Faust noticed that every disappearance occurred beside unusually healthy patches of wildflowers. Recognizing the lure as deliberate camouflage, she ordered the party to probe the ground from a distance instead of approaching directly. When the Abnormality revealed itself, it was successfully contained without anyone falling into its ambush. Although the mission ended successfully, Faust admitted afterward that she found Meat Lantern strangely fascinating. It possessed no malice, only an instinct perfected into a flawless trap. The encounter became one of the first times Faust realized that understanding an Abnormality's behavior was often far more valuable than overwhelming it with force. Faust’s Prior Encounter II – Dream of a Black Swan (WAW) Years later, during her service with the Emberlight Office, Faust assisted in suppressing a roaming Dream of a Black Swan, a WAW-class Abnormality whose presence twisted sorrow into tangible destruction. The operation claimed multiple veteran Fixers before the creature was finally contained. Conventional tactics proved nearly useless, as the Abnormality seemed to lash out in response to grief and despair rather than physical threats alone. Drawing upon archived observations from the Gesellschaft, Faust recognized subtle behavioral patterns shared across alternate encounters. By predicting the creature's movements and coordinating Emberlight's assault around those patterns, the Office managed to contain it with heavy losses but without complete annihilation. The victory came at a cost. For the first time, Faust witnessed an Abnormality whose mere existence could overwhelm even elite professionals. It permanently changed her view of the City's dangers, teaching her that knowledge alone was never sufficient; courage, trust, and sacrifice were equally necessary. Abnormalities and the Gesellschaft Among the countless mysteries catalogued by the Gesellschaft, Abnormalities remain one of the few subjects where nearly every Faust reaches similar conclusions. Their appearances may vary between realities, but their underlying symbolism rarely changes. A fairy tale remains a fairy tale. A nightmare remains a nightmare. A forgotten wish remains forgotten. This consistency has allowed the Gesellschaft to assemble an unparalleled archive of containment records and behavioral analyses. Yet despite centuries of accumulated knowledge, one question remains unanswered: Why do these concepts take physical form at all? Every Faust has proposed an answer. None have proven it. To this day, the true origin of Abnormalities remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries known to the Gesellschaft—a mystery Faust hopes, someday, to solve. Sin: The Stem of Faust’s Power Sin is a concept connected to the Light, which turns one's feelings and memories into power. I put in each spell description what Sin corresponds to it. Wrath is associated with fire, with Faust describing the nature of fire as that of an indiscriminate and uncontrollable destruction, that leaves nothing in its wake Lust is described as a wish to spread a fragment of the self: this definition can include both a literal interpretation of carnal desire and a more metaphorical meaning, including the concept of wanting to spread part of oneself, often in the form of knowledge, a thought, or belief to others. Sloth is defined as the state of being directionless, surrendering oneself to inertia and the will of others. This can manifest in the form of an unwillingness or refusal to change one's ways, or in the form of one who simply follows orders or acts on behalf of another Gluttony is described by Faust as similar to a plant: searching for nutrients, never to be sated by them, as its roots will continue to grow and need a greater supply. Gloom is associated with water, with the pull of Gloom being compared to sinking in deep water: it is a sense of melancholy that is easy to sink into, yet difficult to pull yourself back out, against the water's suffocating pressure and the awareness of the futility of struggling Pride is the sin of overconfidence, stemming from a strong belief in one's infallibility. The sin's associated symbol takes on the shape of a wheel, the symbol of development and humanity's unyielding pursuit of perfection. Because of this, particularly in the City, it is often connected to creation and technological advancement. Envy is the sin of focusing on one's inadequacy compared to others, or a sense of resentment at another's success

NEMESIS

Caelan Ashborne, the Azure Conductor "If the world cannot protect those who are kind, then the world deserves a kinder replacement." Before he became a legend whispered about in fear, Caelan Ashborne was simply Aurelia's older brother. Where Aurelia inspired hope through compassion, Caelan inspired it through certainty. He was a brilliant tactician, musician, and swordsman who believed every life had a place in a greater harmony. To young Faust, he was one of the few adults who treated her as a child instead of a prodigy. He would insist she take breaks from studying, teach her simple songs on the violin, and quietly remind her that knowledge meant little if it came at the cost of happiness. Faust would remember him as: "Caelan Ashborne was... kind. He possessed a tendency to prioritize the well-being of others over his own. Faust once believed such behavior irrational. Faust now understands why Aurelia admired him." Before Aurelia's (presumed) Death Caelan helped Aurelia establish the Emberlight Office, though he never officially joined. Instead, he traveled the City mediating disputes between Associations and Offices, earning the title The Azure Conductor because conflicts seemed to resolve wherever he appeared. Unlike Aurelia, who believed people could change through hope, Caelan believed people simply needed someone to guide them. His philosophy was gentle, almost paternal. He loved his sister more than anyone. Then Aurelia died (presumably). Whether murdered, sacrificed, or simply lost during a mission, Caelan never accepted it. He searched endlessly for someone to blame. The Fingers. The Associations. The City itself. Eventually... The Gesellschaft. He discovered Faust's connection to countless alternate selves. To him, it became proof that reality itself was unfair. "Infinite worlds... yet none where she lived." That realization shattered him. Caelan disappears for years. When he returns, he leads an organization known as The Grand Symphony, composed of former adventurers, scholars, and distortions, people so overcome by grief, hatred, or other negative emotions that they turn into monsters. Unlike cults built on fear, every member willingly follows him. Because he truly understands grief. His goal is terrifying: To merge countless realities together until only the happiest possibilities remain. Every timeline where Aurelia dies... Every timeline where innocent people suffer... Every timeline containing tragedy... Would simply cease to exist. Including countless versions of Faust. Relationship with Faust Caelan never hates Faust. He pities her. To him, she is another victim. Every time Faust speaks with the Gesellschaft, he sees chains wrapped around her soul. He constantly tells her: "You have never truly lived your own life." "Every decision you make belongs to someone else." "I'll free you." He genuinely intends to save her. Even if it destroys her identity. Fighting Style Like Argalia, Caelan fights with impossible elegance. His weapon is a sapphire-colored longsword called Final Movement, which resonates like a violin string every time it cuts through the air. Rather than overwhelming strength, he overwhelms opponents with rhythm. Every attack is part of a composition. Every dodge is perfectly timed. His magic manipulates sound and emotion. He can silence spellcasting. Break concentration. Force creatures to relive memories through haunting melodies. His legendary actions resemble conducting an orchestra rather than making attacks. Personality Unlike most villains, Caelan never raises his voice. He smiles often. He apologizes when forced to hurt someone. He remembers everyone's names. Only when speaking of Aurelia does genuine emotion break through. For a brief moment... The conductor disappears. Only a grieving brother remains. As part of his plans, Caelan has taken over and has become the “god” of… The Index Long before Caelan's rise, the Index was feared as one of the City's most enigmatic powers. Its members lived by the Prescripts—seemingly random commands delivered without explanation. To outsiders, they appeared nonsensical. To the faithful, every Prescript was absolute truth. Obedience promised purpose. Disobedience invited ruin. For generations, no one truly understood where the Prescripts came from. Caelan did. --- The Silent Rewrite During his search for a world where Aurelia survived, Caelan uncovered the ancient mechanism responsible for producing the Prescripts. It was neither divine nor magical in the traditional sense, but a vast metaphysical engine that observed countless possible futures and issued instructions that nudged reality toward a desired outcome. Rather than destroy it, Caelan rewrote it. Not by force, but by becoming part of it. He linked the engine to his own mind, allowing it to continue calculating possibilities while filtering every Prescript through his philosophy. To the Index, nothing appeared to change. Orders still arrived unpredictably. They still led to impossible coincidences and miraculous outcomes. Only their destination had shifted. Every Prescript now moved the world, however subtly, toward the Grand Symphony Even Caelan does not write individual commands. He simply defines the destination. The engine itself determines the countless steps required to reach it. This allows him to sincerely claim: "I do not command the Prescripts. I merely listen more closely than anyone else." Whether this is humility or self-deception is impossible to tell. --- A Different Kind of Faith Under Caelan, the Index no longer recruits through fear alone. It recruits through understanding. Every prospective member is someone standing at the edge of despair. A grieving parent. A disgraced adventurer. A scholar who devoted decades to solving an impossible mystery. A veteran who returned home to find nothing left. A child with nowhere to belong. Rather than promising power, the Index offers something many have never known. Purpose. Each recruit receives a Prescript seemingly tailored to them. Some are simple. “Feed the stray cat outside your apartment." "Speak to the stranger sitting alone." “Visit your childhood home one final time." Following these instructions often leads to profound, life-changing moments. A reunion. A chance encounter. The discovery of hidden courage. Small miracles that seem impossible to dismiss as coincidence. Only after earning their trust do the Prescripts become more demanding. The faithful obey willingly. After all... The Prescripts have never led them astray before. Why would they now? --- Why People Follow Many outsiders dismiss the Index as fanatics. Those within see something entirely different. The Prescripts often save lives. Prevent disasters. Guide lost people toward meaningful futures. Families separated for years find one another. Criminals surrender before committing atrocities. Entire districts avoid catastrophe through actions no individual could have predicted. The tragedy is that these miracles are genuine. Caelan has not corrupted the Prescripts into lies. He has simply aimed every miracle toward a future where all realities will eventually be merged into one. Every act of kindness... Every saved life... Every impossible coincidence... Advances his design by another imperceptible step. --- The Index's Philosophy The old Index demanded obedience because questioning the Prescripts was forbidden. The new Index encourages questions. Members debate. Study. Interpret. Caelan welcomes doubt. He believes faith chosen freely is stronger than faith enforced. Only one rule remains absolute. When a Prescript arrives, it must be followed. No exceptions. Even Caelan obeys every Prescript addressed to him. Many believe this proves his sincerity. Others quietly wonder if the machine has begun directing him as much as he directs it.